Interlocked push-button switch assembly with push button actuator indexing means

ABSTRACT

A pushbutton switch having a sliding block-type switch action wherein a longitudinally displaceable pushbutton moves a blocklike actuator to selectively engage one or more of a plurality of laterally displaceable members to return a previously actuated pushbutton to the unactuated position. A plurality of sets of guide rails, one set for each pushbutton, receive the bottom of the block-like actuator portions for supporting and guiding the same over their longitudinal movement. Each of the rails has a step-like cross-section and the block-like actuator is set on the base portion of each of the steps of the responsive sets of rails and is guided over its longitudinal movement by the wall portions. A projection extends from each of the actuators and slidably engages respective grooves in the switch housing. The grooves have restricted portions which simulate a detent action by deflecting the pushbutton actuator with the same being moved in a longitudinal direction to the actuated position.

Unite States atent [191 Osika et a1.

[54] INTERLOCKED PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH PUSH BUTTON ACTUATOR INDEXING MEANS [75] Inventors: Thomas F. Osika, G y; John T.

Risley, Highland, both of Ind.

[73] Assignee: McGill Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Valpardiso, Ind.

[22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 201,761

[ 1 Apr. 10, 1973 Primary Examiner-J. R' Scott Att0rneyFoorman L. Mueller et a1.

[57 ABSTRACT A pushbutton switch having a sliding block-type switch action wherein a longitudinally displaceable pushbutton moves a block-like actuator to selectively engage one or more of a plurality of laterally displaceable members to return a previously actuated pushbutton to the unactuated position. A plurality of sets of guide rails, one set for each pushbutton, receive the bottom of the block-like actuator portions for supporting and guiding the same over their longitudinal movement. Each of the rails has a step-like cross-section and the block-like actuator is set on the base portion of each of the steps of the responsive sets of rails and is guided over its longitudinal movement by the wall portions. A projection extends from each of the actuators and slidably engages respective grooves in the switch housing. The grooves have restricted portions which simulate a detent action by deflecting the pushbutton actuator. with the same being moved in a longitudinal direction to the actuated position.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 20" 20" I6 )8 M l/' 1m 24 a; 24

PATENTED 3.727.013

SHEET 2 [1F 2 I NVE N TORS.

THOMAS F OSIKA JOHN T RISLEY BY 777 054, 5444M AT TQRNEYST" INTERLOCKED PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH PUSI-I BUTTON ACTUATOR INDEXING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pushbutton switches utilizing sliding block-type switch actions have been proposed in the past. In some applications the block-like actuating portions of the switch pushbutton plungers are dimensioned such that adjacent block-like portions engage one another transverse of the housing and cooperate to hold each pushbutton in position and guide the actuator portions as they are displaced in a longitudinal direction to operate the switch. In switches of this type, however, the entire adjacent wall surfaces of each of the block-like actuators engage each other as a selected pushbutton is operated thereby causing an excessive drag on the buttons making it difficult to operate the same. In addition, if less push-button actuators are needed than as provided in the standard switch design, it is not possible to remove one or more of the block-like actuators. Furthermore, this construction introduces a certain amount of wobble in the pushbuttons whichv is undesirable.

As in most types of switches it is desirable to provide some type of detent action so that the person operating the switch actually feels when the contacts are closed. In the past this detent action has generally been provided in the manner which requires precise dimensioning of the parts with very close tolerances. thereby increasing production problems and the cost of assembling the switches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an improved pushbutton switch having sliding block-type action.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pushbutton switch having sliding block-type action wherein the switch buttons are guided in a manner independent of one another and substantially without wobble.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pushbutton switch having sliding block-type action wherein a detent-type action is provided that makes possible relatively inexpensive and easy assembly of the switch parts.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a pushbutton switch utilizing sliding block-type action wherein one or more of the pushbuttons may be removed from the switch housing and yet the switch can be operated with the pushbutton remaining.

In one embodiment of this invention a plurality of block-like longitudinally displaceable pushbutton switch actuators are positioned in a housing for selectively engaging one or more of a plurality of laterally displaceable members. These members move in response to the longitudinal displacement of one pushbutton to return a previously actuated pushbutton to the unactuated position. A plurality of sets of contacts are associated with the housing for individually cooperating with a corresponding contact carried by selected ones of the actuators for completing an electrical circuit. A plurality of sets of rails are integral with the housing and each set is associated with a respective block-like switch actuator. The rails in each set are positioned in a spaced relation to one another and receive the bottom of the block-like actuator for supporting and guiding the same over its longitudinal movement. The rails align the block-like actuators in a spaced relation to each other to prevent a displaced actuator from contacting an adjacent actuator thereby facilitating the movement of a selected pushbutton. With the actuators being positioned on the rails a deflectable projection extends from each of the actuators into respective grooves in the housing. Each groove has a restricted portion therein and with longitudinal displacement of the selected actuator the projection thereon moves in the groove and is momentarily deflected by the restricted portion of the groove to v simulate a detent action.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view with the top plate partially removed of the pushbutton switch utilizing sliding block-type action in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in cross-section taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevationview in cross-section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view in cross-section taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section view of a portion of the device of FIG. 2 taken along the lines 5-5; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a portion of one of the pushbutton devices in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a pushbutton switch 10 which utilizes a sliding block-type switch action. The switch 10 includes a housing 12 of molded plastic which has a cover plate 14 that is screwed to the walls of the housing to close off the top thereof. A plurality of plungers or pushbutton actuators 16, 17, 18 and 19 are shown slidably positioned in the housing 12. The plungers each include a button portion 20 and a block-like actuator portion 22 connected to the pushbutton 20 by an elongated rectangular arm portion 25.

Integrally molded in the bottom of the housing 12 are a plurality of sets of rails 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. There is a set of rails associated with each of the respective plungers. By referring to FIG. 4, a better understanding of the construction of these rails can be gleaned. Each rail has a step-like cross-section such as shown at 30 which includes a base portion 32 and a wall portion 34 that extends only slightly above the surface of the base portion 32. The block-like actuator portion 22 is then fitted into the housing by setting the same on the base portion of each rail in the set and it is guided over its longitudinal movement by each of the wall portions 34. It can be seen that with this manner of support and guidance for the block-like actuators only a minimum amount of the surface of the actuator contacts the rails thereby greatly reducing the frictional drag on the plungers with the longitudinal displacement of a selected one. Each of the rails in a set is spaced apart an amount only slightly greater than the width of the block-like actuator so with the actuator being set on the base portions of the rails the wall portions thereof virtually eliminate any skewing and transverse wobbling of the pushbuttons in the completed switch assembly. And, as can be seen in FIG. 1, because each of the sets of rails are independent from one another, they support and guide the block-like actuator during its longitudinal movement thereby preventing contact of the surface of one actuator with the actuators on adjacent sides making the buttons relatively easy to push.

A plurality of laterally displaceable members such as 40, 41 and 42 are mounted in the switch housing on a pair of rails 44 and 46, and when a selected actuator is displaced longitudinally, the angled cam surfaces such as 50 and 51 which are present on each of the blocklike actuators 22, engage a matching angled cam surface such as 53 on member 42 to slide the members laterally in a manner to return a previously actuated pushbutton to the unactuated position. Operation of this type of sliding block-type switch action is discussed in greater detail in application Ser. No. 145,925, filed May 21, 1971 and assigned to the assignee of this application.

The dimples on the block-type actuators such as dimple 54 on plunger l7serve to eliminate high and low spots from the parts and create even bearing points on which the actuators can slide with the cover plate 14 in position thereby further enhancing the ease with which the pushbuttons may be operated.

j As can be seen for instance at 60 in FIG. 1, there are a plurality of slots integrally molded into the housing for receiving the switch terminals. In this particular embodiment there is a continuous common contact 62 which extends transversely across the bottom of the switch housing and individual contact portions such as 64 and'65 which are associated with the individual plungers and electrically isolated from one another. Each of the block-like actuators (FIG. 2) has a core 70 molded therein for receiving a spring 72 and a contact member 74 which is biased by the spring 72 into contact with the terminals on the base of the switch housing. In the unactuated position the switch contact 74 of plunger 18 is shown engaging the common terminal 62 and the normally closed upper terminal 75, shown in phantom. With the plunger being displaced in a longitudinal direction the contact 74 connects the common terminal 62 and the terminal 77 to complete the electrical circuit. The outer ledge or canapy 78 over the plunger slot 79 provides protection from contaminants entering the contact areas and cooperates with the undercut portion 81 of the button to limit the amount the plunger may be displaced in the longitudinal direction thereby insuring that the contact 74 will be indexed properly to the set of contacts 62 and 77 i the switch housing. A Since it is generally desirable that the switch operator be able to sense when the switch contacts have been closed, a relatively simple and easily assembled simulated detent device is provided in this switch. You will note in FIG. 1 that a plurality of grooves such as 80 and 82 are provided one for each plunger. Each of the grooves has a restricted portion such as 83 and 84 in grooves 80 and 82'respectively. A projection 88 is integrally molded on the plunger and with the block-like actuator 22 being mounted on its rails the plunger extends downwardly into the groove associated with that plunger. The projection is formed in theshape of an elongated cylinder comprising first and second spaced apart portions 90 and 92 each of which have a semi-circular cross-section (FIG. 7) which permits an inward deflection of each of the portions of the member 88. In FIG. 6 the member 88 is shown in phantom at 88a with the pushbutton plunger in the unactuated position. As

the pushbutton is displaced in the longitudinal direction toward the actuated position, the restricted portion 83 in the groove causes the portions and 92 of the projection 88 to be deflected inwardly thereby simulating to the switch operator a detent action. As the plunger continues toward the actuated position the deflected portions spring back, as shown at 88b, at the same time the switch contacts are closed. Besides providing a simulated detent action for the switch, the projections cooperate with the restricted portions of the grooves and tend to hold the pushbutton plungers in the actuated or unactuated position as the case may be.

If it is desired for a particular application for the switch to have fewer pushbuttons than are provided in the basic design, this can be accomplished by simply removing the unwanted buttons and covering the openings in the housing which are exposed. This feature is possible because of the individual guiding of each of the block-like actuators by the sets of rails, since the sliding members 40, 41, etc; will remain intact and guided by their rails 44 and 46.

What has been described, therefore, is a unique pushbutton switch assembly utilizing sliding block-type action wherein the pushbuttons are guided in a manner to prevent wobble and wherein one or more of the pushbuttons maybe removed and the switch remains operational. The switch includes a detent action that permits relatively inexpensive and easy assembly of the switch parts.

We claim:

1. In an electric switch comprising a plurality of pushbutton actuators each actuator including a button portion, a block-like longitudinally displaceable portion and an arm portion connecting said button portion to said actuator portion, said pushbutton actuators being positioned in a housing for selectively engaging one or more of a plurality of laterally displaceable members, which members move in response to the longitudinal displacementof one pushbutton to return a previously actuated pushbutton to the unactuated position, the switch further having a plurality of sets of fixed contacts associated with the housing for individually cooperating with a corresponding resiliently mounted contact carried by selected ones of the actuators for completing an electric circuit, the combination including a plurality of sets of rails integral with the housing, one set of rails associated with each block-like switch actuator, said rails in each set being positioned in a spaced relation to one another and receiving the bottom of the block-like actuator for supporting and guiding the same over its longitudinal movement, said rails aligning said block-like actuators in a spaced relation to each other to prevent a displaced actuator from contacting an adjacent actuator and said buttonportion of each said pushbutton actuator includes an integrally molded portion which engages said housing to limit the amount said pushbutton actuatorcan be displaced in a longitudinal direction thereby properly indexing said resiliently biased contact on said selected actuators to said fixed contacts on said housing.

2. The electric switch of claim 1 wherein each said rail has a step-like cross-section comprising a base portion and a wall portion extending slightly upwardly from said base portion, and the blocklike actuator is set on the base portion of each said rail and guided over its longitudinal movement by each said wall portion whereby only a minimum amount of the surface of the block-like actuator contacts said rails to limit the frictional drag on said actuators with the longitudinal displacement thereof.

3. The electric switch of claim 2 wherein each said rail of a set is spaced apart an amount only slightly greater than the width of the block-like actuator so with the actuator being set on each said base portion of said rails, said wall portions thereof virtually eliminate wobble and skewing of the same within the housing.

4, A pushbutton electrical switch including in combination, a plurality of plungers having a button portion and an actuator portion, a housing, a plurality of laterally displaceable members slidably mounted in said housing, said plungers being slidably positioned in said housing with said pushbutton portions thereof extending therefrom, said laterally displaceable members moving in response to the longitudinal displacement of a selected plunger engaging said actuator portion thereof with one or more of said members to return a previously actuated plunger to the unactuated position,

a plurality of sets of contacts associated with said switch housing, contact means carried by selected ones of said plungers, said contact means cooperating with an associated set of contacts with said selected plunger being longitudinally displaced to close an electrical circuit with said plunger in the actuated position, and to open an electrical circuit with the same in the unactuated position, said housing having a plurality of grooves in the base thereof, each groove having a restricted portion and being associated with a respective plunger, and each said plunger has a deflectable projection thereon, with said plungers being positioned in said housing, said projections thereon each extends into and slide in a respective groove with the same being displaced longitudinally between an actuated and unactuated position, and said restricted portion of the groove contacts said projection and deflects the same to simulate a detent action.

5. The pushbutton electrical switch of claim 4 wherein said deflectable projection includes an elongated cylindrical shaped device formed from first and second spaced apart body portions each having a semicircular cross-section, and wherein said restricted portion of the groove deflects said body portions toward one another to simulate a detent action. 

1. In an electric switch comprising a plurality of pushbutton actuators each actuator including a button portion, a block-like longitudinally displaceable portion and an arm portion connecting said button portion to said actuator portion, said pushbutton actuators being positioned in a housing for selectively engaging one or more of a plurality of laterally displaceable members, which members move in response to the longitudinal displacement of one pushbutton to return a previously actuated pushbutton to the unactuated position, the switch further having a plurality of sets of fixed contacts associated with the housing for individually cooperating with a corresponding resiliently mounted contact carried by selected ones of the actuators for completing an electric circuit, the combination including a plurality of sets of rails integral with the housing, one set of rails associated with each block-like switch actuator, said rails in each set being positioned in a spaced relation to one another and receiving the bottom of the block-like actuator for supporting and guiding the same over its longitudinal movement, said rails aligning said block-like actuators in a spaced relation to each other to prevent a displaced actuator from contacting an adjacent actuator and said button portion of each said pushbutton actuator includes an integrally molded portion which engages said housing to limit the amount said pushbutton actuator can be displaced in a longitudinal direction thereby properly indexing said resiliently biased contact on said selected actuators to said fixed contacts on said housing.
 2. The electric switch of claim 1 wherein each said rail has a step-like cross-section comprising a base portion and a wall portion extending slightly upwardly from said base portion, and the block-like actuator is set on the base portion of each said rail and guided over its longitudinal movement by each said wall portion whereby only a minimum amount of the surface of the block-like actuator contacts said rails to limit the frictional drag on said actuators with the longitudinal displacement thereof.
 3. The electric switch of claim 2 wherein each said rail of a set is spaced apart an amount only slightly greater than the width of the block-like actuator so with the actuator being set on each said base portion of said rails, said wall portions thereof virtually eliminate wobble and skewing of the same within the housing.
 4. A pushbutton electrical switch including in combination, a plurality of plungers having a button portion and an actuator portion, a housing, a plurality of laterally displaceable members slidably mounted in said housing, said plungers being slidably positioned in said housing with said pushbutton portions thereof extending therefrom, said laterally displaceable members moving in response to the longitudinal Displacement of a selected plunger engaging said actuator portion thereof with one or more of said members to return a previously actuated plunger to the unactuated position, a plurality of sets of contacts associated with said switch housing, contact means carried by selected ones of said plungers, said contact means cooperating with an associated set of contacts with said selected plunger being longitudinally displaced to close an electrical circuit with said plunger in the actuated position, and to open an electrical circuit with the same in the unactuated position, said housing having a plurality of grooves in the base thereof, each groove having a restricted portion and being associated with a respective plunger, and each said plunger has a deflectable projection thereon, with said plungers being positioned in said housing, said projections thereon each extends into and slide in a respective groove with the same being displaced longitudinally between an actuated and unactuated position, and said restricted portion of the groove contacts said projection and deflects the same to simulate a detent action.
 5. The pushbutton electrical switch of claim 4 wherein said deflectable projection includes an elongated cylindrical shaped device formed from first and second spaced apart body portions each having a semi-circular cross-section, and wherein said restricted portion of the groove deflects said body portions toward one another to simulate a detent action. 